When the whole-genome shotgun sequence of the Drosophila genome was assembled, it comprised 134 scaffolds made up of 1636 contigs.

How can sequence gaps be closed?

Key Concepts

Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing

Whole-genome shotgun sequencing is a method used to sequence an entire genome by randomly breaking the DNA into small fragments, sequencing those fragments, and then assembling them based on overlapping regions. This approach allows for rapid sequencing of large genomes, such as that of Drosophila, but often results in gaps that need to be addressed for a complete assembly.

Contigs and Scaffolds

Contigs are contiguous sequences of DNA that are assembled from overlapping fragments, while scaffolds are larger structures that consist of multiple contigs linked together. In genome assembly, scaffolds help provide a framework for the genome, but gaps may exist between contigs, necessitating further work to close these gaps and achieve a more complete representation of the genome.

Gap Closure Techniques

Gap closure techniques involve various strategies to fill in the sequence gaps identified in genome assemblies. These can include using paired-end reads to bridge gaps, employing PCR amplification to obtain missing sequences, or utilizing long-read sequencing technologies that can span larger regions of DNA, thereby providing more complete and accurate genome assemblies.